Election 2010

The candidates were asked two questions: 1) What prompted you to run for a position on the board? and 2) What experience do you bring to the table? 

Lodging south of Jack's Cabin Cutoff

Jim Valenzuela, M.D., Water Wheel Inn, Gunnison

1)  I am running for a second term; my reasons are many.  Initially, I followed those that have served before me, Joellen Fonken, Mark Schumacher and Mike Busse to name a few.  They still inspire.  Secondly, GCBTA is truly an example of valleywide interaction from snow fields to Blue Mesa.  The people involved get along well.  Perhaps most importantly, GCBTA is an extraordinary group of professionals making certain our valley's tourism voice stands out among the many competing communities.  This association is crucial for our economy. 

2) I was trained as a physician, which probably explains why I struggle in business (ho, ho).  On the other hand, I love the area and the folks here.  I serve on the hospital and art center boards, and I learned much on my first term for GCBTA.  I hope that is a good start.

Restaurant south of Jack's Cabin Cutoff

Carolyn Riggs, Brick Cellar, Gunnison

1) Being that tourism is in the top three of economic drivers for our valley, GCBTA is an integral part of private and public business success.  As a restaurant/bar owner in Gunnison, I have seen the results of effective tourism campaigns and believe that the GCBTA continues to create and implement strong programs that bring new people to our valley and keep them coming back for more.  A large part of what our visitors experience is in our dining rooms and sitting at our bars; while they'll remember the best snow they've ever skied, they remember the people, the music, the great food and drinks that created the best vacation experience they've had!  I also believe that the north and south ends of the valley need to work together more closely to continue to provide that unique and impressionable experience to visitors.

2) I have worked in the restaurant industry for more than 15 years in numerous roles and now own my own restaurant/bar in Gunnison and serve on the GCBTA board.  I have lived here in the valley for more than 9 1/2 years and truly love the experience we provide our visitors.  My background is in marketing and public relations, and I have tremendous passion in ad design and event planning.

1) Stephen Pierotti and I were talking and he mentioned an opening on the board for someone from a nonprofit. 

2) Being immersed in certain aspects of our tourism economy and living in the valley since the 1980s has given me a unique perspective. This, combined with a good bit of travel to numerous destination areas across the United States and abroad, leads me to believe that I may be able to add value and experience as a member of the GCBTA board.

Real estate/property management north of Jack's Cabin Cutoff

Molly Eldridge, Red Lady Realty, Crested Butte

1) GCBTA is the only countywide organization whose entire focus is marketing the area for the good of all businesses.  Before GCBTA was founded, each hotel, restaurant and retail store had to try to market themselves as their budget allowed, and the entire county really depended on Crested Butte Mountain Resort to do the marketing for us.  GCBTA provides a way for all businesses to reach a wider audience then they could on their own.  It is very important that everyone living in the county knows what GCBTA does for them by providing extensive marketing for the entire county during all seasons.  I have enjoyed being a part of the organization for the last three years and hope to continue the work we have started.

2) I have been on the board for the last three years and currently serve as the vice president.  I have lived in the Crested Butte area for almost 13 years.  For the first six years, we managed the Irwin Lodge, and then I worked in property management and have been a realtor for almost four years.  My entire adult life has been spent working in the tourism industry, including waitressing at Snowbird, selling vacation packages in Utah, selling trips to the Himalaya and all of the various jobs I have held in Crested Butte.  The realities of the seasonality and the ebbs and flows that happen in the mountains are second nature to me.

At-large north of Jack's Cabin Cutoff

Chris Ladoulis, Django's, Mt. Crested Butte

1) Tourism shapes our community both financially and culturally. Our local economy has long been closely tied to the flow of visitors who spend their vacation time and money in the area, and the experiences we all share with these guests has become a part of life in the Gunnison Valley. I moved to the valley 10 years ago for the same reasons that so many others want to visit. I'm one of the lucky ones who get to stay and call it home. Issues discussed at the north end of the valley often generate lively discussion.  While we all benefit from tourism economically, many are opposed to being considered a "tourist town."  While opposition to a revived local mining industry is passionate, we promote and celebrate our mining history.  While we depend on the area's largest employer to generate tourist traffic, we're often quick to disagree with their methods or blame them when the numbers aren't big enough. Until the valley has a more diverse economic base, we all have to recognize how important tourism is to our economy, we have to leverage our strengths as a unique draw for tourists, and we have to work together to make that happen. I'd like to be a part of the process and help answer the question: how can we continue to attract and retain visitors to the Gunnison Valley and preserve what makes the area so special? 2) My prior experience should enable me to provide insight and contribute to the discussion. After earning degrees in economics and business administration, I worked in and consulted for a variety of companies, from start-ups to multinational corporations facing challenges in their operations, strategy and marketing.  The tourism industry in the Gunnison Valley has similarities since we compete with other destinations for a share of visitors with a limited budget in a tough market. My current experience also brings a valuable and relevant perspective to the board. My wife and I own a small restaurant in Mt. Crested Butte at the base of the ski area. A significant number of our customers do live full-time in the Gunnison Valley, but our location is ideal for attracting short-term guests to the mountain. This makes the restaurant particularly vulnerable to the ups and downs of visitor traffic. Consequently, we have a strong vested interest in making our area an attractive tourist destination.

Andy Eflin, Peak Sports, Mt. Crested Butte

1) I felt that it would be good to get the voice of another Mt. Crested Butte business member on the GCBTA board. Certainly in the summer, Mt. Crested Butte can use all the help it can get.  I feel that there are more things we can be doing to generate a prosperous economy in our county. I see others working hard for the benefit of the community and felt it was my turn to help once again. 

2) I was born and raised in Crested Butte and went to high school in Gunnison. I later graduated from Fort Lewis College with a bachelor of arts degree in business administration. After college, I managed a ski shop in Steamboat Springs for five years. When an opportunity arose, I went into partnership with my father and we and started Eflin Sports at the ski area base in Mt. Crested Butte in the spring of 1990.  I operated and ran the day-to-day business of Eflin Sports for 11 years.  During that time, I served on the Mt. Crested Business Association and acted as president for two or three years.  I have lived in Gunnison more than 20 years and really have a good perspective of the local tourism trade in our valley.

View the entire Board of Director's here.